'I was just crying' (From Witney Gazette)

'I was just crying'

9:00am Wednesday 25th October 2006 in Witney By Ruth Keeling

A BAND which raised thousands of pounds for a mental health charity was spurred on by its own experience of depression.

The Larkz raised £1,400 for Oxfordshire Mind with their sell-out gig at the Langdale Hall, Witney, organising the event because Ali Edginton, wife of lead singer, Kev, had suffered depression after her shop Figments was destroyed in an arson attack.

Mrs Edginton - pictured with her husband in front of the damaged shop - who helped organise the charity event, said: "Because of what I had been through, I felt that I could relate to some of the people that it is helping."

On the night of June 6, Mrs Edginton and her husband received a call telling them that the Sobell House charity store, next door to their shop in Langdale Court, Witney, was in flames.

They rushed there to find that the fire had spread to their property - which was packed with thousands of pounds worth of ethnic clothes, jewellery, crystals, and other new-age items.

Mrs Edginton said: "It was devastating watching the flames and watching the smoke come out of the shop, and knowing we couldn't even get in there."

"It was devastating watching the flames and watching the smoke come out of the shop, and knowing we couldn't even get in there."

Ali Edginton

It wasn't until 4am that fire crews were able to put the fire out and open the shop's shutters.

The 40-year-old mother of two said: "All the stuff in the windows was melted, the thick black smoke was everywhere.

"We had lost everything - it was a total write-off."

Unfortunately, Mrs Edginton had not updated her insurance since she had opened the store 18 months before, and was only insured for £15,000, but had seen almost £40,000 of goods go up in smoke. The shop front and ceiling also needed to be entirely rebuilt before she could reopen.

She said: "I just couldn't stop crying all the time. I was a bit of a wreck."

Since then, with the help of friends and family, she has started to rebuild her business, planning selling parties, organising the band's gigs, and preparing for the reopening of her store in December.

She said: "I can't wait.

"I really miss it.

"A lot of people have said not to go back because it was so traumatic when the fire happened, but I met so many great people and friends through the shop that I just love it."

* A 'Figments party' is planned for Tuesday, November 14, when there will be ladies clothing, carved wood and cast iron gifts, incense, and other wellbeing items on sale.

Part of the profits will go to Oxfordshire Mind.

The event will be held at Witney Snooker Club, on the Eagle Industrial Estate, off Church Green, and will start at 7pm.